The LSU Ag Center is participating in a trial to show the effectiveness of a new form of insect repellant, Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”

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Opposition from the Conservative Caucus and a lack of outright support from Governor Edwards may end up dooming an effort to dedicate a portion of the state sales tax to infrastructure. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 2 (29) “…I’m Matt Doyle” 

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Severely obese state employees will soon be eligible for bariatric surgery after legislation that has been in the works for almost 20 years passes this session. Brooke Thorington has more.

Cut 3 (30)  “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”

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Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is in Juneau, Alaska this week as part of a partnership between our two states to jointly promote domestic seafood.

Nungesser says Louisiana and Alaska are the two biggest producers of domestic seafood in the US and the partnership is a natural fit.

Cut 4 (12)”…takeovers”

Alaska and Louisiana combine to produce about 6.5 million pounds of seafood annually.

Nungesser says the partnership will certainly boost the profile of Louisiana seafood and help promote tourism into the Bayou State, but it will also spread another important message.

Cut 5 (08)”…country.”

Nungesser says after visiting Alaska he’ll be hosting their Lt. Governor on a trip to New Orleans later on.

Cut 6 (12)”…winning that”

The plan is to have 2017 King of American Seafood Chef Lionel Uppida of Alaska cook alongside 2015 King of Louisiana Seafood Chef Mike Brewer.

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LSU’s AgCenter is seeking volunteers to participate in a study of an insect repellant. Medical Entomologist Kristen Healey says they are helping a company rate the effectiveness of an existing product but not available yet in the forms of a wipe and lotion.

Cut 7 (10)  “…formulation.”

Healey says participants will be outfitted in scrubs, like those in healthcare wear, and enter a mosquito area to test the repellant.

Cut 8 (09) “…comparison.”

But Healey says before mosquitoes land on a participants’ leg to leave their mark, they will be thwarted by a device called an aspirator to minimize and bites.

Before insect repellants are available to the general public, Health says they are thoroughly tested so what you read on the EPA label is backed by proper research and that’s what they are doing with these forms of the product.

Cut 9 (06) “…by science” 

Healey says the manufacturer picked the right state to test their product because Louisiana has more than 60 individual species of mosquitos.

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The legislative session ends Thursday so legislation that would dedicate .45 percent of the state sales tax that will expire in 2025 to infrastructure has only four days left to get over the finish line. Conservative lawmakers oppose it and Governor Edwards says he likes the idea, but the devil is in the details.

Cut 10 (12) “…expire”

The legislation by Port Allen Senator Rick Ward would begin shifting that sales tax money into an infrastructure sub-fund starting in 2022. The bill is waiting to be heard on the Senate floor and it needs a two-thirds vote to pass.

Edwards says he understands the idea behind the bill and admits something must be done to generate more infrastructure funds.

Cut 11 (09) “…fund.”

The proposal would generate nearly 400 million dollars a year starting in 2025 for infrastructure projects.

Governor Edwards reiterated his commitment to vetoing a bill that’s been sent to him by the Legislature that would remove the requirement for those over 21 to have a permit to concealed carry.

Edwards says the current requirement that anyone concealed carrying be trained on marksmanship, carrying laws, safety, and law enforcement interactions is not burdensome.

Cut 12 (11) “…problems.”

The bill cleared both the House and Senate with enough votes that should Edwards veto it, and there are no lawmakers who change their mind, the veto could be overridden.

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A bill to cover bariatric surgeries for state employees passes overwhelmingly in the legislature after a long-fought battle. Bill author Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says this is welcome news for state employees in an effort to extend their life and reduce the costs spent on morbidly obese-related illnesses.

Cut 13 (09) “…were on.”

Despite Louisiana having the highest in the nation obesity rate, it was one of a few states that didn’t cover bariatric surgery for severely obese state employees. An effort to have Louisiana cover the surgery began almost 20 years ago. Barrow hopes this is just the beginning.

Cut 14 (07) “…as well.”

A fiscal note attached to the bill estimates that covering the surgeries will cost more than $5 million in the first year but decrease to half that by 2026 due to savings on prescription drug benefits and other medical costs like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.

Cut 15 (09)“…go down.”

The bill cleared the House last week on a 93-0 vote and takes effect in August.

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The LSU Tigers are still alive in the Eugene Regional after winning two games yesterday, nine to four over Gonzaga and four to one over Oregon to set up a winner take all game tonight against the Ducks. After a terrific pitching performance against the Zags by A-J Labas, freshman Javen Coleman followed that up with six sensational innings against Oregon. Head Coach Paul Mainieri…

Cut 16 (19) “…tremendous job.”

Devin Fontenot pitched two shutout innings for his fifth save. Gavin Dugas led the Tigers offensively with a home run and a triple that could have been ruled as an inside the park home run. Mainieri was glad to see Dugas have a big game after a quiet start to the regional

Cut 17 (13) without out a doubt.” 

If LSU can beat Oregon tonight, they will advance to the super regionals to play Tennessee in Knoxville. Mainieri says he’s not ready to retire yet…

Cut  18 (18)”..do it though.”

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Louisiana Tech’s historic baseball season ended last night with a 14-7 loss to North Carolina State in the championship round of the Ruston Regional. The Bulldogs jumped out to a four to nothing lead but they couldn’t keep the Wolfpack down who beat Tech twice over the weekend. La Tech Coach Lane Burroughs says he’s proud of this team

Cut 19 (17) “…man.” 

Louisiana Tech finished with a record of 42-20, won the Conference USA West, beat three teams from the SEC including a 10-8 win over Alabama yesterday and hosted the first Regional in school history. Burroughs says they are just getting started

Cut 20 (19)  “…good team.” 

An effort to extend the state’s 180 million dollar film tax credit program into 2028 was rejected by the House and appears unlikely to pass by the end of the session next week. Matt Doyle has more.

Cut 1 (30) “ …I’m Matt Doyle.” 

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Business groups are calling on an early end of enhanced unemployment benefits but Governor Edwards says he wants to make an informed decision as to not end benefits too early. Brooke Thorington has more

Cut 2 (31) …I’m Brooke Thorington”  

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The Gulf of Mexico “Dead Zone” is expected to cover an area of 4,761 square miles this summer ranging from Louisiana to Texas. That’s according to LSU scientist Dr. Nancy Rabalais who says the low oxygen area in the gulf, where it’s hard for living resources to survive, is about 500 square miles less than previous years but still a disappointing number.

Cut 3 (7) “…might come through”

The current size of the Dead Zone is two and half times larger than the goal set in 2001 making it about three times the size of Rhode Island. Rabalais says she’s very disappointed due to the lack of change.

Cut 4 (10) “…to accomplish it”

The low oxygen conditions began 50 years ago due to agricultural practices in the Midwest and the nitrate loading hasn’t reduced since. Rabalais says the dead zone also has an economic side effect.

Cut 5  (11) “…low oxygen increases”

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The House rejected an attempt to extend the state’s 180 million dollar film tax credit out to 2028 from its current sunset date of 2025.

Mandeville Representative Richard Nelson hammered the bill, saying we can only afford a meager 800 dollar teacher pay raise for 60 million dollars while giving Hollywood 180 million a year. He adds…

Cut 6 (12) “…system”

Nelson also cited a study that claims the program only generates 22 cents in revenue for every one dollar the state spends on film tax credits.

Alexandria Representative Lance Harris notes the credit is worth about half of the .45 percent sales tax extension that was approved by lawmakers in 2018.

Cut 7 (11) “…state” 

Opponents also pointed to a report that showed many of the productions utilizing the credit are taking in more in credits than they pay out in payroll.

Columbia Representative Neil Riser spoke on behalf of the bill’s author Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt. He touted numbers from the Lt. Governor showing the credit has a 1.3 billion dollar annual tourism impact.

Cut 8 (10) “…came there.” 

The final vote was 45 in favor with 37 against with 23 members absent. Riser says he would like to bring the bill back for another vote but is concerned the 70 votes needed for passage would be a tall order with the Speaker against it.

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After receiving several letters and complaints from numerous business groups and owners to end the federally enhanced unemployment benefits before they expire in September, Governor John Bel Edwards says he wants to make an informed decision before reacting.

Cut 9 (11) “…or not.”

Economist Jim Richardson served on the Revenue Estimating Conference for the state for three decades.

Edwards says as of yet he doesn’t have the benefit of the study, but he does know that Louisiana is heavily dependent on tourism.

Cut 10 (09) “…not jobs”

Groups like LABI and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce are calling on state leaders to end federally enhanced benefits to encourage people to return to the workforce. Edwards says however the more than $8.2 billion in unemployment payments is having a positive effect on the local economies.

Cut 11 (11) “…meeting.”

The Governor says he expects the study to be completed in the next few weeks. He also pointed out that the Federal benefits are set to expire on Labor Day when the majority of students are back in class thus helping those with childcare issues to be able to return to the workforce.

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Two men were struck and killed while changing a tire on the shoulder of I-10 westbound in St. James Parish on Thursday afternoon. State Trooper Taylor Scrantz says 33-year-old Jermaine Irvine of St. Francisville’s vehicle veered off the roadway as 33-year-old Daniel Thomas was assisting 50-year-old James Breaux of Donaldsonville with a flat tire…

Cut 12 (6) “…killing em both”

Scrantz says Breaux and Thomas were pronounced dead at the scene and toxicology samples have been taken from all three parties…

Cut 13 (6) “…be filed as well”

As of now, no charges have been filed against Irvine. Scrantz urges motorists to be aware of disabled vehicles on the side of the road…

Cut 14 (9) “…on the roadway”

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A flash flood watch is in effect this weekend across south Louisiana.  Assistant Professor of Research at LSU Dr. Vinny Brown says we just can’t shake this rainy pattern

Cut 15 (11) “…southern Louisiana.” 

The National Weather Service says there’s the potential for two to five inches of rain with localized higher amounts. Brown says that rain will fall on already saturated soil…

Cut 16 (09) “…soil saturation.”